TechnologyJuly 16, 2026

kaizen

/ˈkaɪ.zɛn/

Definition

A Japanese business philosophy focusing on the continuous, incremental improvement of processes, efficiency, and quality.

Etymology

The word is derived from the Japanese 'kai' (change) and 'zen' (good). It gained international prominence after World War II as a core principle of the Toyota Production System, later being adopted into global business terminology.

In the news

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang referenced 'kaizen' to highlight how Japan's deep-rooted commitment to manufacturing excellence and incremental refinement makes it an ideal partner for developing safe, high-quality robotics.

Fujitsu and leading Japanese robotics companies to use Nvidia technology in 'physical AI'

Read the full article ↗

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